Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

4. By way of practical Subjection; when his Love subdues our Hearts to himself, and constrains us to new obedience, 2 Cor. 5.14, The Love ⟨p. 201⟩of Christ constrains us; it restrains us from sinning against him, and engages us to obey him: To know, that we may know, and make knowledge the end of it self is nothing but vain curiosity: To know that we may be known, is nothing but vainglorious arrogancy. To know that we may make others know, is indeed an edifying charity; but to know that we may be transformed into the image and likeness of what we know of the Love of Christ, this is the true, the excellent, the transcendent way of knowledge; And this was that knowledge of Christ, and of his Love, which the Apostle set such a price upon, 1 Cor. 2.2. when he determined not to know any thing, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified: That he might there see the Love of Christ streaming out of his heart, at his wounds in his blood; and there see Divine Justice satisfied, the Law fulfilled, and thence feel his Conscience purified, and pacified, and his Soul engaged, and quickened to walk in all new obedience; This is that [Greek or Hebrew]. The transcendent knowledge of Christ, in comparison of which all other things were loss, and dross, and dung; That he might know Christ, and the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable to his Death, Phil. 3.8, 10. And this is one way of clearing the difficulty, and reconciling the seeming contradiction.

4. By way of practical Subjection; when his Love subdues our Hearts to himself, and constrains us to new obedience, 2 Cor. 5.14, The Love ⟨p. 201⟩of Christ constrains us; it restrains us from sinning against him, and engages us to obey him: To know, that we may know, and make knowledge the end of it self is nothing but vain curiosity: To know that we may be known, is nothing but vainglorious arrogancy. To know that we may make others know, is indeed an edifying charity; but to know that we may be transformed into the image and likeness of what we know of the Love of Christ, this is the true, the excellent, the transcendent way of knowledge; And this was that knowledge of Christ, and of his Love, which the Apostle set such a price upon,